Safety mechanism for automatic nozzles

ABSTRACT

The safety mechanism of this invention forms a portion of an automatic nozzle for dispensing gasoline or the like. The mechanism includes a pressure control member movably mounted on the nozzle spout to engage the filler pipe on the tank being filled. When the control member engages the filler pipe, pressure is transmitted to a diaphragm and a locking device carried thereby to release the locking device and to permit operation of the nozzle.

United States Patent Eklund 1 Dec. 25, 1973 [54] SAFETY MECHANISM FORAUTOMATIC 3.077.212 2/1963 Hearn 141/209 NOZZLES 3.603.359 9/1971 Belue141/208 [75] Inventor: Hans Eric Eklund, Malmo, Sweden FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 1,027,271 4/1966 Great Britain 141/214 [73] Asslgnee: ABLlungmans verksmde" Malmo' 1.449.689 7/1966 France 141/198 Sweden [22]Filed; June 9, 1971 Primary ExaminerHouston S. Bell, Jr.

AttorneyR0bert W, Mayer, Thomas P. Hubbard, Jr., [21] Appl l5l330 DanielRubin, Raymond T. Majesko, Roy L. Van Winkle, William E. Johnson, Jr.,Eddie E. Scott and Mor- [30] Foreign Application Priority Data g CFOWJune 16, 1970 Sweden 8311/70 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. l4l/207, 141/226The safety mechanism of this invention forms a por- [51] Int. Cl. B67c3/26 tion of an automatic nozzle for dispensing gasoline or [58] Fieldof Search. ...l4l/192195, 198, 206-211, the like. The mechanism includesa pressure control 214, 215. 217, 218, 224-228, 276, member movablymounted on the nozzle spout to en- 346, 347, 352, 353, 355, 360-362 gagethe filler pipe on the tank being filled. When the control memberengages the filler pipe, pressure is transmitted to a diaphragm andalocking device car- [56] References Cited ried thereby to release thelocking device and to per- UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1951 Chadil et a1.141/207 mit operation of the nozzle.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PMENIEUDEE25 1975 3,780,776

FIG. 2

INVENTOR HANS ERIK EKLUND ATTORNEY PAIENTED M825 i973 SHEET 2 BF 3INVENTOR HANS ERIK EKLUND LMMQM ATTORNEY mimgnneczssu 3.780.776

SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTOR HANS ERIK EKLUND a zmw ATTORNEY 1 SAFETY MECHANISMFOR AUTOMATIC NOZZLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a safety mechanism in a manually operable valve unit for dispensingfluid from one container to another, the valve unit preferably havingthe form of a pistol-grip hose nozzle which is provided at the end of ahose and includes a valve mechanism that can be reset to open positionby means of an actuator. A pistol-grip nozzle suitable for use with thisinvention is fully described in my copending applicationSer. No.828,940, filed May 29, 1969 US. Patent No. 3,638,689 issued Feb. 1,1972.

The ever-increasing number of gasoline dispensing self-service stationsnecessitates special safety arrangements which eliminate as far aspossible the risks involved when non-technical or untrained personshandle such highly inflammable fluids as gasoline. The hose nozzlestherefore should have a safety mechanism that does not permit resettingof the nozzle to the open position until the dispensing pipe or spout ofthe nozzle is placed in the container that is to be filled, and that thecontainer is empty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the present invention provides asafety mechanism that is associated with a locking mechanism retainingsaid valve mechanism in open position. The locking mechanism comprises adiaphragm defining a first compartment that communicates with a venturisystem for controlling the pressure within the compartment.-The lockingmechanism is released for resetting the valve mechanism to closedposition when the pressure insaid compartment deviates from apredetermined range.

The safety mechanism includes a second diaphragm forming a secondcompartment. The second diaphragm cooperates with the locking mechanismto prevent release of the locking mechanism until a pressure controlmember is actuated to generate a predetermined pressure in the secondcompartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWINGS Various embodiments of the presentinvention will be described in more detail in the following, referencebeing had 'to the accompanying drawings in which like referencecharacters in all figures and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a nozzle including an embodiment of asafety mechanism constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a portion of the valve mechanism ofan automatic nozzle; FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the valvemechanism in a different operating position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a component of the valve mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows a partial section of a mechanism according to the presentinvention in a pistol-grip type hose nozzle taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross section of a pressure control member similarto that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross section of another embodiment of the pressure controlmember;

FIG. 8 is a cross section of still another-embodiment of the pressurecontrol member; and,

In this position, the connection between the piston 8 FIG. 9 is an endview of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A pistol-grip type hosenozzle in which the safety mechanism of the present invention isincorporated is shown in FIG. 1. This nozzle is mounted at the end of ahose with inlet end 1 of housing 2. A nozzle valve mechanism is mountedin the housing 2.

The valve mechanism is operable by means of a lever 3 and avalve-actuating abutment 4 which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lever 3is pivotally mounted on the housing 2. The hose nozzle also includes atrigger guard 5 on the housing 2, a dispensing pipe or spout 6, and adiaphragm housing 7 which preferably is formed integrally with the valvehousing 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, abutment 4 on the lever 3 is urgedtoward a piston 8 that is spring-loaded and movably mounted in a pushrod 9. Spring 10, urging the piston 8, toward the abutment 4 is locatedwithin the push rod 9 behind the piston 8. The movement of the piston 8in the push rod 9 is limited by a pin 11 in the piston 8 that travels ina slot in the push rod 9.

The piston 8 has a recess for receiving a pair of locking rollers 12.The push rod 9 also has a recess 13 for receiving the rollers 12 whenthe rollers are located in the recesses of the piston 8 shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rollers 12 are movable in two opposed slots 14provided in the limbs of a U-shaped frame 15. The rollers are retainedin the slots by means ofa U-shaped yoke 16. The frame 15 and the yoke 16are secured to diaphragm 17 by means of a screw 18a and a nut as shownin FIG. 5.

When the components are in the position shown in FIG. 3, pivotalmovement of the lever 3 moves the push rod 9 towards a valve ball 20which is raised off of ball seat 21 since the locking rollers 12 arelocated in the recess in the piston 8 and the recess 13 in the push rod9. The piston 8 and the push rod 9 are coupled together by means of therollers 12. Further movement of the push rod 9 displaces the main nozzlevalve 18 off of its seat (not shown) opening the nozzle to full flow.

It will be observed that the diaphragm 17 in the position shown in FIG.3 has been urged into the locking position against the valve mechanism,and in this case the requirements for opening the valve are satisfied.If they are not, the diaphragm l7 bulges outwardly from the valvemechanism into the position shown in FIG. 2.

and the push rod 9 is interrupted, whereby the piston 8 is pressed intothe push rod 9 without moving the latter towards the ball 20.

The diaphragm 17 defines a compartment 22 (see FIG. 5) communicatingwith the rear opening 23 of the dispensing pipe 6 (See FIG. 1) via apipe extending through said dispensing pipe and a duct 24. Thecompartment 22 also communicates with the interior of the housing 2 insuch manner that the fluid passing therethrough will give rise to an airflow from the opening 23 through the pipe, the duct 24, the compartment22 and into the interior of the housing 2. During this air flow, thediaphragm 17 is urged into the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in whichthe valve mechanisn can be opened. For instance, if the fluid level inthe container in which the dispensing pipe 6 has been inserted, risesabove and blocks the opening 23, the air flow terminates and thediaphragm 17 bulges outwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2. In thisposition of the diaphragm 17, the valve mechanism automatically returnsto its closed position and cannot be reset to open position. To permitresetting, the fluid level in the container into which dispensing is totake place, must be below the opening 23. Accordingly, overfilling ofthe container is prevented. The foregoing automatic nozzle features aremore fully described in the copending patent application which has beenreferred to hereinbefore.

It has been found desirable to lay down a further requirement that mustbe satisfied before the valve mechanism can be reset to the openposition. According to this requirement, the dispensing pipe 6 must beinserted into the container which is to be filled, or into the fill pipeor opening of said container. In that case, the pressure control member25 provided on the dispensing pipe 6 (FIG. 1) will be actuated anddisplaced from the full line position to the broken line position. Themember 25 is spring-loaded towards the full line position. The functionand construction of this member will be described in more detail in thefollowing.

In the safety mechanism shown in FIG. 5, there is provided in parallelwith the diaphragm 17 a further diaphragm 26 which, by means of adiaphragm housing cover 27, defines a compartment 28 communicating withthe pressure control member 25 via a duct 29 and a pipe 30 locatedwithin the dispensing pipe 6.. The diaphragm 26 is mounted on a holder31 by means of a screw 32 and a cup-shaped support washer 33 that islocated on that side of the diaphragm opposite to the holder 31. Y

The holder 31 is moveable in a body 34 that is interposed between thediaphragms 17 and 26. Sealing rings 35 separate the two compartments 22and 28 from one another. Between the body 34 and the holder 31, there isprovided a compression spring 36 urging the holder 31 and thus thediaphragm 26 in a direction away from the valve mechanism in the housing2. Between the body 34 and the washer 19 for the diaphragm 17, therealso is provided a compression spring 37 urging the diaphragm as well asthe frame 15 and the rollers 12 towards the locked position shown inFIG. 3. The screw 18a facing the diaphragm 26 carries a pin 39 travelingin a slot 40 in the holder 31. When the components occupy the positionshown in FIG. 5, the valve mechanism can be reset to open or unlockedposition.

To cause the components to take up the position shown in FIG. 5, airmust be conducted throughthe compartment 22, and this implies that theopening 23 and the duct 24 must be unobstructed. Furthermore, thepressure in the compartment 28 must lie within a given predeterminedrange within which the diaphragm 26 takes up the position shown in FIG.against the action of the spring 36.

If the fluid level in the container being'filled rises above the blocksthe opening 23, the air flow through the compartment 22 terminates andthe diaphragm 27 bulges outwardly from the valve mechanism against theaction of the spring 37. In this case, the rollers 12 in the frame arepulled out of the recesses in the piston 8 and the push rod 9, wherebythe valve mechanism returns to the closed position and cannot be resetto open until the diaphragm 17 has returned'to the position shown inFIG. 5. t

When the diaphragm 26 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, the slot andpin connection 39, 40 allows diaphragm diaphram 17 to move. If however,the pressure within the compartment 28 is not maintained within thepredetermined range, the diaphragm 26 bulges outwardly toward the cover27 under the action of the spring 36. During this movement of thediaphragm 26, the slot and pin connection 39,40 causes the holder 31 tocarry the diaphragm l7 and thus the frame 15 with its rollers 12 alongso that the piston 8 and the push rod 9 are disengaged, that is,unlatched from one another. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the diaphragm 17can move without acting upon the diaphragm 26, whereas the diaphragm 26will act upon the diaphragm 17 via said slot and pin connection 39,40.

As has already been mentioned, the pressure control member 25 isutilized for raising the pressure within the compartment 28 to a valuewithin the predetermined range. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, thecontrol member 25 includes a housing 41 that is movably mounted on thedispensing pipe 6 and a bellows 42, which has one end fixedly mounted onthe dispensing pipe 6. The other end of the bellows 42 is mounted to thehousing 41. When the housing 41 is urged against the fill pipe oropening of a container being filled, the housing 41 is displaced on thedispensing pipe 6 to the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1.During movement of the housing 41, the bellows 42 is compressed, therebyincreasing the pressure within the chamber 28 which is in communicationwith the bellows via the duct 29 and the pipe 30. The valve mechanismcannot be reset to open or unlatched position until the housing 41 ismoved to the position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of pressure control member, which issimilar to the pressure control member of FIG. 1. In this embodiment,housing 141 consists essentially of two components, 141awhichaccommodates bellows 142 and its mounting 143, and 141k which formsthe end wall of the housing 141. Between the components 141a, 141b thereis provided a protection ring 144 extending outwardly beyond theperiphery of the components 141a and 141k and manufactured preferably ofsome shock-absorbing material. The two components 141a and 14117 areconnected by means of screws 145.

Against the inside of the component 141b there abuts a support ring 146which constitutes the end wall of the bellows 142 and which, togetherwith the housing 141, is displaceable along the dispensing pipe 6. Themounting 143 for the bellows is secured to the dispensing pipe 6 bymeans of welds 147. The mounting 143 also includes a duct 148 thatprovides communication from the interior of the bellows 142 to the tube30 leading to the duct 29. FIG. 6 also shows the pipe that extendsbetween the opening 23 and the duct 24.

As shown by the embodiment of FIG. 7, the pressure control member 225need not be displaceably mounted on the dispensing pipe 6, but may bemounted at the dispensing pipe end adjacent tube valve housing 2. Thebellows 242 is fixedly mounted at the end of the dispensing pipe 6within a housing 229. The housing 229 is displaceable on the dispensingpipe 6 under the force of a spring 250 or other movement-transmittingmember. The end of the spring 250 is in engagement with a collar 251that is movable on the dispensing pipe 6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further embodiment of the pressure control memberdesignated by the reference character 258. In this embodiment of thebellows is divided into three separate bellows unit 252, one of which isshown in FIG. 8. The bellows units 252 extend between an end wall 253and a mounting plate 257. Walls 254 projecting from the end wall 253serve as protection for the bellows units 252.

Moreover, the end wall 253 is displaceable on the dispensing pipe 6 forcompressing the bellows units 252 against the action of a spring 255mounted in each of the units 252. The springs 255 urge the end wall 253against an abutment 256 mounted on the dispensing pipe 6 which limitsthe outward movement of the end wall 253 and the bellows units 252.

The bellows units 252 are mounted on the plate 257 having a mountingring 259 for each bellows unit. The center of the plate 257 has a hole260 allowing the plate to be positioned on the dispensing pipe 6. Withineach mounting ring 259 there is provided a hole 261 establishingcommunication with the interior of the bellows units 252.

The plate 257 engages mounting 262 for the bellows units 252. Themounting 262 is fixedly secured to the dispensing pipe 6 and includes aduct system 263 that is in communication with the pipe 30. Theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 obviously has the same functionas the embodiments of the control member previously described. It shouldalso be obvious that a piston-cylinder arrangement can be utilizedinstead of the bellows described, if desired.

The present invention provides for a pistol-grip hose nozzle, the valvemechanism of which cannot be reset to open position until twoindependent requirements are satisfied. On one hand, the liquid level inthe container which is to be filled must not rise above and block theopening 23 and, on the other hand, the pistolgrip hose nozzle, due tothe described safety mechanism, must be pressed against the spout oropening of the container with such a force that the pressure controlmember increases the pressure within the compartment 28 to within apredetermined range.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A safety mechanism in a manually operableautomatic closing, fluiddispensing nozzle for preventing operation of the nozzle except when thenozzle is positioned in the neck of a tank to be filled, said safetymechanism comprising:

a nozzle housing;

a spout connected with the nozzle housing;

a flow valve in the nozzle housing for permitting and preventing flowtherethrough;

a valve lever movable on said housing for opening and closing saidvalve;

releasable locking means in the nozzle housing associated with said flowvalve to prevent opening of said valve when unlocked, said locking meansbeing responsive to a pneumatic signal to permit said valve to closeirrespective of the position of said valve lever;

control means located on said spout for generating a predetermined fluidpressure when said control means is in engagement with the neck of thetank to be filled;

pressure responsive means located in and forming a compartment with saidnozzle housing, said compartment being in fluid communication with saidcontrol means for receiving said fluid pressure; and,

connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive means andsaid locking means for preventing said locking means from moving to alocked position when said pressure in said compartment is below saidpredetermined value, whereby said nozzle cannot be opened to dispensefluid.

2. The safety mechanism of claim 1 wherein said control means includes:

collapsible means in fluid communication with said compartment andhaving one end fixed to the spout;

housing means engageable with the other end of said collapsible meansand moveable on said spout whereby a force applied to said housing meanscollapses said collapsible means generating the pressure in saidcompartment to disengage said connecting means and locking means.

3. The safety mechanism of claim 2 wherein said collapsible meanscomprises an annular bellows encircling the spout.

4. A safety mechanism for use in a manually operable automatic closing,fluid dispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle includes a housing, a spoutconnected with the housing, a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever,and releasable locking means associated with the flow valve to preventopening of the valve when unlocked, the locking means being responsiveto a pneumatic signal to permit the valve to close irrespective of theposition of the valve lever, said safety mechanism comprising:

control means located on the spout including collapsible means forgenerating a fluid pressure and having one end fixed to the spout andhousing means engageable with the other end of the collapsible means andmoveable on the spout whereby a force applied to the housing meanscollapses and collapsible means generating a predetermined pressure;

pressure responsive means located in and forming a compartment with thehousing, said compartment being in fluid communication with saidcollapsible means whereby the generated pressure is applied to saidpressure responsive means;

connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive means andthe locking means, said connecting means including a holder memberconnected to said pressure responsive means, said holder having a boretherein and a slot extending into said bore, said connecting means alsoincluding an elongated member connected to the locking means and movablyextending into said bore and a pin carried by said elongated memberprojecting through and moveable in said slot and engaging one end ofsaid slot when the pressure in said compartment is below thepredetermined value to prevent the locking means from moving into thelocked position wherein the valve can be opened;

a spring located between the housing and locking means biasing thelocking means and said elongated member relatively away from saidpressure responsive member; and,

a second spring located between the housing and said holder memberbiasing said pressure responsive means in a direction to reduce thevolume of said compartment and relatively away from the locking means.

5. A safety mechanism for use in a manually operable-automatic closing,fluid dispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle'includes a housing, a spoutconnected with the housing, a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever,and releasable locking means associated with the flow valve to preventopening of the valve when unlocked,

the locking means responsive to a pneumatic signal to permit the valveto close irrespective of the position of the valve lever, said safetymechanism comprising:

control means located on the spout for generating a fluid pressure, saidcontrol means including an annular bellows encircling the spout andhaving one end fixed to the spout, said control means also includinghousing means engageable with the other end of said bellows and movableon the spout whereby a force applied to said housing means collapsessaid bellows generating said pressure;

pressure responsive means located in forming a compartment with thehousing, said compartment being in fluid communication with said controlmeans;

connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive means andthe locking means to prevent the locking means from moving to a lockedposition when the pressure in said compartment is belowa predeterminedvalue;

abutment means slidably disposed on the spout; and,

resilient means encircling the spout and having one end engaging saidabutment means and the other end engaging said housing means, whereby aforce exerted said abutment means is transmitted to said housing means.

6. A safety mechanism for use in a manually operable-automatic closing,fluid dispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle includes a housing, spoutconnected with the housing, a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever,and releasable locking means associated with the flow valve to preventopening of the valve when unlocked, the locking means being responsiveto a pneumatic signal to permit the valve to close irrespective of theposition of the valve lever, said safety mechanism comprising:

control means located on the spout for generating a fluid pressure, saidcontrol means including a plurality of bellows circumferentially spacedabout the exterior of the spout and having one end fixed to the spoutsaid control means also including housing means engageable with theother end of said bellows and movable on said spout whereby a forceapplied to said housing means collapses said bellows generating saidpressure; pressure responsive 'means located in and forming acompartment with the housing, said compartment being in fluidcommunication with said control means; and,

connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive means andthe locking means to prevent the locking means from moving a lockedposition when the pressure in said compartment is below a predeterminedvalue.

7. The safety mechanism of claim 6 wherein said housing meanssubstantially individually encompasses each said bellows.

8. A safety mechanism for use in a manually operahie-automatic closing,fluid dispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle includes a housing, a spoutconnected with the housing, a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever.and releasable locking means associated with the flow valve to preventopening of the valve when unlocked, the locking means being responsiveto a pneumatic signal to permit the valve to close irrespective of theposition of the valve lever, said safety mechanism comprising:

control means located on the spout for generating a fluid pressure;

pressure responsive means located in and forming a compartment with thehousing, said compartment being in fluid communication with said controlmeans; and,

connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive means andthe locking means, said connecting means including a holder member connected to said pressure responsive means having a bore therein and aslot extending into said bore,

said connecting means also including an elongated member connected tothe locking means and movably extending into said bore, and a pincarried by said elongated member projecting into and mov able along saidslot and engaging one end of said slot when the pressure in saidcompartment is below the predetermined value to prevent the lockingmeans from moving into the locked position wherein the valve can beopened.

9. The safety mechanism of claim 8 and also including:

a spring located between the housing and locking means biasing thelocking means and said elongated member relatively away from saidpressure responsive member; and,

a second spring located between the housing and said holder memberbiasing said pressure responsive means in a direction to reduce thevolume of said compartment and relatively away from the locking means.

igiggi UNlTED STATES PATEIQT QFFiCE -CERTIFICATE QF CQRRECTIQN PatentNo. 3,7 ,77 :Date d I Decen lber 25, 197

Inventor(s) Hans EI'iC Eklund I It is certified that error appears intheabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Claim 4, colpmn 6, line 41, change "and" to "said"; I Claim '5, c.o'lumn7 line 10, after "means" and before D 'responsive" ihsert -'-b eing-. Dl 7 Claim 6, column 8, line 6,' aftei". "moving" andbefore "a", insert--to--.

Signed an sealed thi 9th day of April 4 (SEAL) eAtt'es't:

EDX'IARD BLFLEJTCHERJR; i C. MARsI-I LL DANN Attesting Officer 1Commissioner pf Patents

1. A safety mechanism in a manually operable-automatic closing, fluiddispensing nozzle for preventing operation of the nozzle except when thenozzle is positioned in the neck of a tank to be filled, said safetymechanism comprising: a nozzle housing; a spout connected with thenozzle housing; a flow valve in the nozzle housing for permitting andpreventing flow therethrough; a valve lever movable on said housing foropening and closing said valve; releasable locking means in the nozzlehousing associated with said flow valve to prevent opening of said valvewhen unlocked, said locking means being responsive to a pneumatic signalto permit said valve to close irrespective of the position of said valvelever; control means located on said spout for generating apredetermined fluid pressure when said control means is in engagementwith the neck of the tank to be filled; pressure responsive meanslocated in and forming a compartment with said nozzle housing, saidcompartment being in fluid communication with said control means forreceiving said fluid pressure; and, connecting means operably connectingsaid pressure responsive means and said locking means for preventingsaid locking means from moving to a locked position when said pressurein said compartment is below said predetermined value, whereby saidnozzle cannot be opened to dispense fluid.
 2. The safety mechanism ofclaim 1 wherein said control means includes: collapsible means in fluidcommunication with said compartment and having one end fixed to thespout; housing means engageable with the other end of said collapsiblemeans and moveable on said spout whereby a force applied to said housingmeans collapses said collapsible means generating the pressure in saidcompartment to disengage said connecting means and locking means.
 3. Thesafety mechanism of claim 2 wherein said collapsible means comprises anannular bellows encircling the spout.
 4. A safety mechanism for use in amanually operable automatic closing, fluid dispensing nozzle wherein thenozzle includes a housing, a spout connected with the housing, a flowvalve in the housing, a valve lever, and releasable locking meansassociated with the flow valve to prevent opening of the valve whenunlocked, the locking means being responsive to a pneumatic signal topermit the valve to close irrespective of the position of the valvelever, said safety mechanism comprising: control means located on thespout including collapsible means for generating a fluid pressure andhaving one end fixed to the spout and housing means engageable with theother end of the collapsible means and moveable on the spout whereby aforce applied to the housing means collapses and collapsible meansgenerating a predetermined pressure; pressure responsive means locatedin and forming a compartment with the housing, said compartment being influid communication with said collapsible means whereby the generatedpressure is applied to said pressure responsive means; connecting meansoperably connecting said pressure responsive means and the lockingmeans, said connecting means including a holder member connected to saidpressure responsive means, said holder having a borE therein and a slotextending into said bore, said connecting means also including anelongated member connected to the locking means and movably extendinginto said bore and a pin carried by said elongated member projectingthrough and moveable in said slot and engaging one end of said slot whenthe pressure in said compartment is below the predetermined value toprevent the locking means from moving into the locked position whereinthe valve can be opened; a spring located between the housing andlocking means biasing the locking means and said elongated memberrelatively away from said pressure responsive member; and, a secondspring located between the housing and said holder member biasing saidpressure responsive means in a direction to reduce the volume of saidcompartment and relatively away from the locking means.
 5. A safetymechanism for use in a manually operable-automatic closing, fluiddispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle includes a housing, a spoutconnected with the housing, a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever,and releasable locking means associated with the flow valve to preventopening of the valve when unlocked, the locking means responsive to apneumatic signal to permit the valve to close irrespective of theposition of the valve lever, said safety mechanism comprising: controlmeans located on the spout for generating a fluid pressure, said controlmeans including an annular bellows encircling the spout and having oneend fixed to the spout, said control means also including housing meansengageable with the other end of said bellows and movable on the spoutwhereby a force applied to said housing means collapses said bellowsgenerating said pressure; pressure responsive means located in forming acompartment with the housing, said compartment being in fluidcommunication with said control means; connecting means operablyconnecting said pressure responsive means and the locking means toprevent the locking means from moving to a locked position when thepressure in said compartment is below a predetermined value; abutmentmeans slidably disposed on the spout; and, resilient means encirclingthe spout and having one end engaging said abutment means and the otherend engaging said housing means, whereby a force exerted said abutmentmeans is transmitted to said housing means.
 6. A safety mechanism foruse in a manually operable-automatic closing, fluid dispensing nozzlewherein the nozzle includes a housing, spout connected with the housing,a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever, and releasable locking meansassociated with the flow valve to prevent opening of the valve whenunlocked, the locking means being responsive to a pneumatic signal topermit the valve to close irrespective of the position of the valvelever, said safety mechanism comprising: control means located on thespout for generating a fluid pressure, said control means including aplurality of bellows circumferentially spaced about the exterior of thespout and having one end fixed to the spout said control means alsoincluding housing means engageable with the other end of said bellowsand movable on said spout whereby a force applied to said housing meanscollapses said bellows generating said pressure; pressure responsivemeans located in and forming a compartment with the housing, saidcompartment being in fluid communication with said control means; and,connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive means andthe locking means to prevent the locking means from moving a lockedposition when the pressure in said compartment is below a predeterminedvalue.
 7. The safety mechanism of claim 6 wherein said housing meanssubstantially individually encompasses each said bellows.
 8. A safetymechanism for use in a manually operable-automatic closing, fluiddispensing nozzle wherein the nozzle includes a housing, a spoutconnected with the housing, a flow valve in the housing, a valve lever,and releasAble locking means associated with the flow valve to preventopening of the valve when unlocked, the locking means being responsiveto a pneumatic signal to permit the valve to close irrespective of theposition of the valve lever, said safety mechanism comprising: controlmeans located on the spout for generating a fluid pressure; pressureresponsive means located in and forming a compartment with the housing,said compartment being in fluid communication with said control means;and, connecting means operably connecting said pressure responsive meansand the locking means, said connecting means including a holder memberconnected to said pressure responsive means having a bore therein and aslot extending into said bore, said connecting means also including anelongated member connected to the locking means and movably extendinginto said bore, and a pin carried by said elongated member projectinginto and movable along said slot and engaging one end of said slot whenthe pressure in said compartment is below the predetermined value toprevent the locking means from moving into the locked position whereinthe valve can be opened.
 9. The safety mechanism of claim 8 and alsoincluding: a spring located between the housing and locking meansbiasing the locking means and said elongated member relatively away fromsaid pressure responsive member; and, a second spring located betweenthe housing and said holder member biasing said pressure responsivemeans in a direction to reduce the volume of said compartment andrelatively away from the locking means.